Drug Crimes

Alpharetta Drug Crimes Attorney

Defending Against Drug Crimes in Sandy Springs, Johns Creek, Fulton County & Forsyth County

The police arrested you, and the prosecutor charged you with a drug-related crime. Surprisingly, you're not alone. Statistically, most people use (or at least try to use) a recreational drug at some point. Some who do this get caught. Others don't.

We won't kid you. Any drug-related arrest in Georgia is severe, whether you're caught with pot in your car or busted trying to distribute narcotics. One conviction—even on a single charge for drug possession of marijuana—can devastate your freedom and future. Now is not the time to take risks.

Are you facing a drug charge in Georgia? Call Brian Hansford Law today at (678) 647-6444 or contact us online to schedule a meeting with our drug crimes lawyer in Alpharetta!

Georgia Drug Schedule Classification

Drugs are broken up into 'Schedules' and include the following:

Schedule I: the most dangerous of drugs, including ecstasy, mushrooms, heroin, etc.
Schedule II: drugs that may be used for medical purposes, requiring a prescription, including opium, Codeine, cocaine, etc.
Schedule III: includes steroid drugs.
Schedule IV: includes Xanax and Valium.
Schedule V: must be prescribed and are commonly abused.

In addition to our Cumming office, we have a new location in Roswell in the Gilbert House at 38 Sloan Street which is available by appointment.

Types of Drug Crime Cases We Defend

At Brian Hansford Law, our commitment to excellence means we pursue every available legal way of protecting your freedom. As your representative, we will examine the evidence and how investigators collected it. If your rights were violated in any way, we would find out about it.

We defend people who are accused of the following drug crimes in the state of Georgia:

Possession of an illegal substance
Possession with intent to distribute
Smuggling drugs, narcotics, or controlled substances across state or international lines
Growing, cultivating, or manufacturing illegal substances
Gun or firearm arrests related to drug crimes

What are the Penalties for Drug Crimes in Georgia?

In Georgia, the penalties for drug crimes can be severe and depend on the offense committed. Here are the penalties for some common drug-related offenses:

Possession of an illegal substance: In Georgia, possessing a controlled substance is a felony offense. The penalty depends on the type of drug involved and the amount in possession. For example, possessing less than one ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Possession of cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine is a felony offense and can result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Possession with intent to distribute: Possession with intent to distribute is a more serious offense than simple possession. The penalty depends on the type and amount of drugs involved and any prior convictions. For example, possession with intent to distribute less than an ounce of marijuana is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine is a felony offense and can result in a prison sentence of up to 30 years.
Smuggling drugs, narcotics, or controlled substances across state or international lines: This offense is a federal crime and can result in significant penalties, including a sentence of up to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million.
Growing, cultivating, or manufacturing illegal substances: The penalty for growing or manufacturing drugs in Georgia varies depending on the type and amount of drugs involved. For example, growing fewer than ten marijuana plants is a felony offense and can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Gun or firearm arrests related to drug crimes: In Georgia, it is illegal for a person who has been convicted of a felony drug offense to possess a firearm. This offense is a felony and can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

It's important to note that these penalties are subject to change and may be influenced by other factors such as prior criminal history and the judge's discretion. It's also worth noting that drug crimes in Georgia can have long-term consequences beyond legal penalties, such as difficulty finding employment and housing.

What Makes a Drug Charge a Federal Offense?

Basic possession may be kept at the state level, while offenses such as drug trafficking, manufacturing, or intent to distribute are more likely to be charged at a federal level. Any criminal acts that suggest that the individuals may be performing a severe criminal business and making substantial earnings will deal with federal charges.

Contact Our Alpharetta Drug Crimes Lawyer Today

People convicted of narcotics-related crimes in Georgia are often subject to mandatory sentencing. This means lengthy prison sentences, fines, and the loss of other personal rights for any drug-related conviction.

Attorney Hansford believes you should be able to make things right after your arrest. Whether you go into an alternative treatment program or we aim to get the drug charges dismissed, we can work relentlessly to help minimize the impact a drug-related arrest has on your life. Sometimes, our drug crime lawyer in Alpharetta can even have the drug charges expunged from your criminal record.

Contact Brian Hansford Law today to schedule a FREE consultation with our drug crimes attorney in Alpharetta!

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Schedule a Free Consultation

You deserve an advocate who will fight aggressively to protect your rights. Attorney Brian Hansford has decades of experience working in the criminal justice system. We understand that being accused of a crime does not make you a criminal. We are prepared to do everything possible to raise doubts about allegations made by the prosecution. Get an aggressive advocate to protect your future. Call now and get started.

What Sets Us Apart

4 Reasons that Make Us the Right Choice

First Class Representation
At Brian Hansford Law, you get a defense team that will give you their undivided attention to your case. We take the time to understand your situation and meticulously prepare your case in an effort to achieve the best possible result.
Former Prosecutor
Having been a former prosecutor, Brian Hansford understands both sides of the criminal justice system. This experience helps him design an effective defense for his clients.

Fierce Trial Attorney
Many attorneys are afraid to go to trial - NOT US! We aggressively prepare every case as if it will go to trial.
25 Years of Experience
There's no substitution for experience. With 25 years of practicing law, our team has handled all kinds of charges from misdemeanors to some of the most complex and serious crimes.

Client Reviews

Don't Take Our Word For It

At Brian Hansford Law, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

"Always very professional and thorough"
I am so glad we hired Mr. Hansford to represent our family. He was always very professional and thorough providing feedback along the way and keeping us up-to-date all details of our case. His office personnel is also very courteous, helpful, responsive and best of all very professional. I would definitely hire Brian again for any legal representation.

- Vicky
"Mr. Hansford put my mind at ease"
Mr. Brian Hansford advised me of my legal liability regarding a vehicular accident I was involved in. I was ticketed and summonsed to appear in court. The ticket stated I failed to obey a traffic signal resulting in an accident with another party. In reality, I had been distracted by a police operation (lane closure, three police cars with flashing lights, officers on the road arresting someone) that was occurring at this same intersection at the same time. I had been distracted by this and took my eyes off the traffic signal not noticing a light change. Mr. Hansford was successfully able to have the charge downgraded. I did not have to appear in court and I paid a very small fine with no points recorded against my license. Having the accident and a resulting ticket plus the impending court appearance caused me a great deal of anxiety and stress. Mr. Hansford put my mind at ease. He was a good listener, courteous and a pleasure to deal with. His legal assistant Erin was also great to deal with, highly efficient and very respectful. I am now VERY careful around intersections but I would not hesitate to use Mr. Hansford again should any future legal need arise. I am grateful for his counsel and would highly recommend him.

- Sarah
"They provided good, solid advice to my family."
I cannot say enough about the service that Brian and his team member Erin provided. He was recommended to us by a friend who had hired him for their son. They provided good, solid advice to my family when my son received a fairly severe driving citation. The punishment that the state was suggesting was pretty brutal for the offense. We told Brian what we would like for the outcome to be and he worked hard to negotiate with the state to get the best possible outcome for us while still giving our son adequate punishment to hopefully make sure a lesson was learned. Brian was very professional from our first consultation all the way through to the sentencing. Erin was very good about keeping us informed and responded promptly to email anytime we had a question. Would not hesitate using his services in the future. Hopefully that won't be necessary.

- Dan
"Brian is well-respected in the Alpharetta courts"
Brian met with us within 2 days of my daughter's DUI less safe charge. Having never even heard of DUI less safe, I was reassured to have him representing her. His staff kept us informed throughout the process and answered our questions. He gave us a realistic scenario of what the final outcome would be and we were so relieved that he delivered an even better conclusion to this nightmare. Brian is well-respected in the Alpharetta courts and we are certain his professional relationships with the people there were key in receiving the best outcome.

- Previous Client
"Excellent, caring representation and a good result."
I met Brian Hansford shortly after having been arrested based on a personal recommendation from a friend. From the first moment, Brian did everything he could to assist -- both with Legal advice and practical issues such as helping find arrangements for my family to provide bail.
The legal representation during my felony case was excellent. The fees were straight-forward and as expected. Brian worked hard both in and out of the courtroom (such as working hard to win over prosecutors) and we received a favorable plea deal. Within a few months, I was able to start putting my life back together. In the years since (including just a few weeks ago), I have voluntarily gone back to court twice to clear related issues. Both times I retained Brian and am pleased with the results.
I also retained Brian's firm for a civil matter a few years ago. Again, excellent, caring representation and a good result.

- Previous Client
"Kept us informed every step of the way."
I was frantic trying to find an attorney, and me being out of state, it was proving to be difficult for the situation at hand. I reached out to the firm on a Sunday evening and received a response that night, as well as a follow-up the next day to confirm the details of the case. By the end of the week, and after speaking to multiple firms, I chose Mr. Hansford. Mr. Hansford, and his assistant Ms. Bell, were beyond helpful in our situation. They were very accessible and returned emails/calls ASAP. They kept us informed every step of the way and answered all questions in a thoughtful, and timely, manner. I highly recommend this firm for your legal issues. Best part is, we avoided even having to make a trip to GA thanks to Mr. Hansford and Ms. Bell.

- Brandy
"Forever grateful for his help and success in our legal issues"
Brian handled several cases in the past few years. I had two children who suffer from addiction which landed them in some legal trouble. Brian was sensitive to the fact that this was heartbreaking to a mother and father, as well as informative and very professional. He kept us updated and very educated. I will be forever grateful for his help and success in our legal issues. I will always use Brian for any future legal concerns that may occur.

- Chris I.
"Brian was amazing to work with."
We were not prepared for the legal situation we found ourselves in with our daughter and wasn't really sure if we needed an attorney or not. But after a consultation with Brian, we knew we needed help. Brian was amazing to work with. He listened, answered all of our questions, phone calls, and emails with grace and always right away. He and Erin, his legal assistant, made a terrible situation, not so terrible. We knew we had someone on our side who was looking out for our child in a way no one else would. Brian is well connected in the legal community here in the Forsyth County and was able to offer insight as to how juvenile court operates that we would never have known. He kept in close contact in regards to our case and made sure we knew what to expect every step of the way. And I'm thrilled to report, got us to the best legal outcome we could have hoped for for our daughter. But Brian often spoke to us parent to parent...offering not just legal advice, but options and ideas for our child's future. He even called us a week after our court appearance to check on us and the whole family and to see how everyone was doing and if there was anything we needed help with. We are so grateful for his legal ability as well as his compassion and grace during what has been a very challenging time for our family. If you or your child is in need of help, do reach out to Brian. You will be so thankful that you did.

- Previous Client

Let's Fight Your Charge

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